Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAM)

In the vast majority of private law family matters, which includes any applications relating to either finances or children’s issues, an applicant needs to attend a meeting with a suitably qualified family mediator. before starting a court application This confidential meeting is called a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM).

This is an opportunity for the mediator to share a lot of important information, including detailed information about mediation as well as all the other possible alternatives to mediation, which include the use of solicitors and the court process. It is also your opportunity to explain the issues that you are facing. The mediator will then assess whether the matter is suitable for mediation.

If the mediator assesses that the matters are suitable for mediation then it is expected that both parties will consider starting the mediation process either with the assessing mediator or another mediator, or to look for a solution via one of the alternatives to mediation but not via the courts. If the case is assessed as not being suitable for mediation, the mediator can, if requested, complete the mediator’s section of the relevant form to record this.

Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings in London and Godalming

At Godalming Family Mediation, we offer MIAMs at a fixed fee of £120 in the Godalming office and £150 in London for each party including VAT. The meeting normally lasts approximately 1 hour which allows plenty of time for all the relevant issues to be explored and for questions to be asked to the mediator. We prefer to see each party separately for this meeting in order to ensure that each party has the opportunity to speak freely and to get information that is tailored to their specific needs and circumstances.

We understand that it is sometimes difficult to find the time to meet in person and we are able to offer MIAM meetings via a video call (e.g. via Skype or WhatsApp) if preferred.

Please contact us if you would like more information about the MIAM process.

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Please Note: Any data that you share with us will be kept strictly confidential and private.

“Just to thank you for all your help and should mediation be necessary in the future, I shall recommend we return to you for more help!”

Mrs S

The truth is the Separation and divorce has been a disaster for me. Having said that I know it would have been a great deal worse had it involved separate lawyers and court proceedings. So in avoiding that fate I would like to say how grateful I am to you and the mediation process.”

Mr B, January 2016

“Thank you for all your help. It has been an incredibly useful process”

Mrs S

I am hugely grateful to Godalming Family Mediation for gently steering us towards an amicable resolution to our difficult family dispute. Euan was calm, impartial and listened carefully to help us understand the best possible outcome for all parties. Highly recommended.

Mrs B (February 2018)

Euan’s calm and pragmatic approach helped diffuse the tension in our discussions which enabled us to reach an agreement that we both felt comfortable with. We wouldn’t have been able to progress as quickly or easily without his help which became invaluable”.

Mrs G, January 2016

“In our particular case, we had already agreed that a straight forward split of assets was fair and sensible, with additional consideration / provision of child maintenance in line with the law and fair spousal maintenance based on agreed need. Mediation was helpful in that rather than using two separate lawyers who would by definition and at enormous expense to both parties, drive the “best deal” for their individual client, mediation provided a single point of arbitration to ensure both parties were not being unreasonable or in a positive sense, acting as a single person to assess reasonableness for both parties. Whilst not wishing to make disparaging remarks about the legal profession, an individual lawyer representing an individual client has only the interests of billable hours and their client in mind, at the expense of the third party and ultimately in effect, their client (the “pot” to share much reduced as it is turned into legal fees) – a very poor way to settle a dispute where only the lawyers ultimately win. In our case, even having delivered a mediated agreement, individual lawyers still managed to make seemingly huge charges for what appeared to be a cut and paste exercise from mediated settlement onto standard court forms. I appreciate that the courts wish to see that both parties are individually represented however feel sorry about my experience with lawyer (bad) compared with experience of mediator (good) in what is a very difficult time.”